The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is pushing to relocate 59 of its local government offices from local government secretariats to independent locations, citing operational and security challenges that have emerged over the years.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this call while briefing the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly on Thursday.
The Commission’s offices initially operated within secretariats, a setup dating back to the transition from military to democratic rule, when military governors provided office space for INEC. Prof. Yakubu explained that while these arrangements were functional during the transition period, they have since posed challenges, especially during elections.
“These offices serve not only administrative functions but are critical for voter registration and election result collation. Having them share space with local government secretariats has led to incidents where access was restricted for certain political groups during collation,” he stated.
According to Prof. Yakubu, INEC has so far moved 715 of its 774 local government offices out of the secretariats, amounting to 92.4% of all offices. The remaining 59 offices, mostly in the Southeast (47.5%), South-South (27.1%), and Southwest (20.3%), are yet to be relocated due to budgetary constraints and limited land availability, particularly in urban areas like Lagos and parts of the Southeast. Prof. Yakubu emphasized that in some regions, land scarcity and high costs hinder the relocation process, compared to the northern states where land is more accessible.
To sustain the relocation efforts, Prof. Yakubu urged lawmakers to consider annual budget allocations for INEC’s infrastructure needs, instead of relying solely on election-year funding. He noted that INEC manages over 860 buildings nationwide and needs consistent funding for their maintenance. “Our suggestion is for this honorable committee to consider annual provisions for maintenance and relocations to ensure continuous improvement of our facilities,” he appealed.
The lawmakers voiced their support, highlighting the need for INEC’s independence in office locations to reinforce public trust in the electoral process. A committee member said, “INEC’s facilities should reflect its independence to foster public confidence.”
Meanwhile, INEC has formally presented Certificates of Return to Ondo’s Governor-elect and Deputy Governor-elect, concluding the state’s recent governorship election.
At a ceremony held on Wednesday at INEC Headquarters in Abuja, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, INEC’s Supervising National Commissioner for Ondo, commended the people of Ondo State for their peaceful conduct during the election, which he described as a reflection of the people’s will.
Prof. Ajayi stressed that the certificates symbolize the mandate given by the people and are a constitutional obligation under Section 72, Subsection 1 of the Electoral Act. The Governor-elect, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, lauded INEC for a smooth election and promised to serve Ondo State with dedication.
